EVENTS

Mate, hello mate

Well this is foul.

One of the self-styled “Muslim patrols” that have been wandering the streets of east London bullying anyone they don’t like posted this one that shows them bullying a man they take to be gay. All the more offensively, they keep mixing “mate” in with their abuse – “you’re a bloody fag mate, get out of it mate, what’s wrong wiv your face mate.”

Comments

Sounds a lot like an anti-abortion ‘sidewalk counselor’ at 40 Days For Life, or a street harasser bullying a woman because she’s walking down the street by herself. Amazing how many people think they have a right to demand others conform to their personal code.

Why does “mate” seem offensive from your perspective? From a London perspective, “mate” is a somewhat friendly word.

Calling someone a “friend” while verbally harassing them is passive-aggressive, and in a way more belittling than direct abuse. Like saying something extremely sexist to a woman who you address as “dearie.” It doesn’t soften the delivery, it twists the knife.

Very strange that this video was shot by the abusers themselves. Normally foulness like this on the internet is undercover footage filmed by a sympathetic bystander. Actually filming it on purpose must indicates a higher (or lower) level of bigotry.

The use of mate is intimidating and aggressive. I haven’t seen the video, but in Oz, if you’re after a fight, or want to intimidate someone, you’ll ‘wan’t a shot at the title, mate?’ or ‘what you looking at mate?’ or some such testosterone laden crap. Mate means friend when it’s used in a friendly context, just as pal, buddy can be nice or nasty. Context.

As repellent as this video is, I would regard the YouTube user with caution. Their avatar is the Flag of England, which has some rather unsavory associations. I wouldn’t be surprised if the BNP has itself a case of fatwa envy.